With a greater scientific understanding of how to improve our state of mental and physical well-being available, there is greater potential for all of us to live longer, more fulfilling, healthier lives.
However, this doesn’t mean silent health conditions, such as high cholesterol, have disappeared and millions are still affected by the build-up of plaque in the arteries today. Luckily, managing high cholesterol doesn’t have to take wholescale lifestyle changes or an unrealistically strict diet or workout regime to manage or reduce your cholesterol levels.
But first, it’s important to define and understand what exactly high cholesterol is, and the potential implications it can have on your overall well-being and longevity if left unmanaged.
What is High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance often referred to as lipid that is carried around your blood. Our bodies need sufficient levels of lipids to function efficiently, but if there’s an excess, lipids start to build-up in our arteries. When combined with other substances in your blood, plaque (fatty deposits) is formed.
In many scenarios, plaque doesn’t have any immediate serious health consequences. However, if left untreated for a prolonged period, plaque silently grows bigger within your arteries and can become deadly.
The growth of plaque in the arteries is associated with an increased risk of several serious health conditions, such as:
§ Heart attack
§ Stroke
§ Peripheral Arterial Disease
§ Transient Ischaemic Attack
How do I Know if I Have High Cholesterol?
Unfortunately, due to the silent nature of high cholesterol, it doesn’t produce many noticeable symptoms for a long period of time, but that certainly shouldn’t understate its potential severity.
The best way to assess your cholesterol levels is not to search the internet, looking on obscure websites that could misinform or worry you about potential symptoms you might be experiencing, but to book an appointment with your GP. You may not even need to book an in-person, timely appointment with a doctor; online services such as Anytime Doctor provide treatment, consolation, and guidance on high cholesterol.
How to Manage High Cholesterol
Although symptoms are silent, and you might not notice high cholesterol as being something that may be impacting your future health, there are plenty of steps you can take to manage your cholesterol levels and increase your chance of living a long, healthy life.
1. Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
The effects of eating a healthy, balanced diet are broad, and you’re likely to experience several other physical and mental health improvements alongside cholesterol management by implementing this habit.
2. Regular Exercise
Exercise is fun, improves our mental health and social connections, and can help to manage high cholesterol. So, finding a particular exercise or sport that you enjoy and starting to participate in it regularly can be a fun way of managing your cholesterol levels. You don’t have to become a professional athlete or run a marathon every other week, but having mildly intense workouts 2-3 times a week will do wonders for your cholesterol levels and overall health.
3. Quit Smoking
It can be easier said than done, and smokers are often aware of the negative effects their habit can have on their short and long-term health, but quitting smoking can be a great step to managing your cholesterol levels.
